Lioba from Red Tape Translation is a freelance actor when she’s not working for us, and she has spent the day trying to make sense of the state aid available for self-employed people during the COVID-19 pandemic. She spoke with a case worker at a Job Center in depth this morning. We give her our warmest thanks for taking the time to share her knowledge.
Financial Aid for Freelancers in Germany
Edited 09.04.20 with important information for people with residence permits – see below.
Freelancers, you are very likely eligible for “Arbeitslosengeld II” (unemployment money II) as “Grundsicherung für Selbstständige” (basic security benefits for freelancers) from the Jobcenter. This is financial aid from the unemployment center to cover your most important needs. They cover health insurance, rent, and give you allowances for other expenses. Due to the lockdown in Berlin, they have now simplified the application process. You can still go in-person – this is seen as an emergency – and you will be handed the forms right away. You then fill them out, attach all sorts of evidence of your expenses, and drop them in the letterbox at the front of the building.
Please note that this is WELFARE. This is not related to the immediate one-off grant that will be available for self-employed and freelance people in Bavaria and not officially released yet in Berlin. You can find those details here.
Bureaucracy in the Time of Corona (also known as #staythefuckhome)
Since some people don’t want to/can’t leave the house anymore, you can also get the forms by post. To get the right forms posted to you, write a simple letter stating that you are a freelancer who is out of income due to the virus and you wish to apply for aid. In this letter, make sure you include:
– Your date of birth
– Your marital status
– Your living situation: are you the main tenant (‘Hauptmieter*in’), a sub-lessee (’Untermieter*in’), living in a flat share (WG) or do you own your property, do you live alone?
– How you earn money – are you a freelancer/self-employed/employed?
– A copy of your ID or, for non EU-citizens, your passport and residence permit (‘Aufenthaltstitel’)
EDIT 18.03.2020: Here is a template in German to send to your local Jobcenter
[gview file=”https://redtapetranslation.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cover-letter-job-center-template.pdf”]
If you are some sort of bureaucracy ninja and you already know what forms you need, you can also download them at www.jobcenter.digital and send them in right away. We would also be happy to help you figure out which forms are relevant.
I’m a non-EU citizen, am I even eligible for Job Center benefits?
Here’s an excerpt from a PDF published/updated by the Agentur für Arbeit in January 2020. Have a look at the last 6 pages, 84-89. It outlines the different types of work permits and whether they are eligible for social benefits under SGB II (ALG II falls under this classification). See below for a summary in English of common permit types.
[gview file=”https://redtapetranslation.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/dok_ba015897-full-text.pdf”]
Here’s a summary of the permits held by self-employed people that we see most often at Red Tape Translation.
- Self-employed entrepreneur (§21 No. 1): You are eligible to receive benefits under SGB II but it might impact your right of residence
- Freelancer (§21 No. 5): You are eligible to receive benefits under SGB II but it might impact your right of residence
- Permanent residence permit or Daueraufenthalt-EU (§9, 9a, 18b, §19, §21.4, §26.3, §26.4, §38.1.1): You are eligible to receive benefits under SGB II once you’ve held this permit for more than three months
- Residence permit as the spouse of a German citizen: You are eligible to receive benefits under SGB II but it might impact your right of residence
- Residence permit as a parent of a German child: You are eligible to receive benefits under SGB II and this has no impact on your right of residence
- Permanent residence as the family member of a German citizen (spouse or parent): You are eligible to receive benefits under SGB II and this has no impact on your right of residence
Getting these benefits might impact my right of residence?
27.03.2020: The foreigner’s office in Berlin has just released a statement with some changes to Residence Act in light of Corona. If you draw ALGII between 18.03.2020 and 17.06.2020,your permit will NOT lapse, even if there is a statement on your permit that says it will.
Residence permits sometimes have caveats on them like “Erlischt mit Bezug von Leistungen nach dem SGB II oder SGB XII bzw. AsylLG” (permit lapses if permit holder receives benefits classified under the German Social Code Book II, XII or Asylum Applicants Benefits Act). If your permit says that, you can ignore this caveat and apply for ALGII if you need to.
Other tips and tricks for completing your application
- I completed this process. I needed the following forms (downloadable at jobcenter.digital):
– HA (the main application form)
– EKS (income I earn as a freelancer)
– EK (general income declaration)
– VM (my capital, my financial situation)
– KDU (costs for accommodation and heating)
– VE (my living situation in a flatshare)
- EU citizens need to hand in their invoices from the past six months, as they’re only eligible if they can prove that they have been a freelancer for at least half a year. A way for non-EU citizens to prove they’ve been a freelancer for at least 6 months is by presenting their Aufenthaltstitel.
- If you want to receive money for the month of March, make sure you send the forms in (or drop them directly in the postbox at the entrance of the Jobcenter of the district you’re registered in) by the end of March.
- They will still need other documents that prove your expenses! (like rental contract, paystubs, bank statements, etc.)Please also note, that if you happen to earn money in the upcoming months while you still receive payments from the Jobcenter, they might ask you to pay some money back. It works like unemployment payments. So once you. start earning money again, make sure to tell them that you’ll longer need their support.
- You will be eligible for their support for the next 6 months at least.
- Please note that the above is only for people who haven’t been employed for 12 consecutive months!! If you’ve been employed, you will have to turn to the Agentur für Arbeit to ask for ALGI before you can be considered for ALGII.
Get help with your application
Kathleen just made a video to help you with the main application form. If you want help beyond that, she’d be happy to help. Red Tape Translation has reduced the price of Life Admin from 49 EUR per hour to 35 EUR per hour for this very purpose.
Two disclaimers:
- this post is based on me interviewing a job center representative. She probably only got briefed mere hours before I talked to her. Things can change at the speed of light. The best thing you can do is just apply ASAP so that your application is processed quickly (as quickly as possible, anyway) and ride the waves that follow.
- As with any welfare program, ALGII is designed for people living hand to mouth and who are threatened with not being able to cover their basic living expenses. Even if the JobCenter has reduced their audit processes for the next few months, they will resume again after summer and they will likely be just as stringent as ever.
Stay safe, stay healthy, stay sane, wash your hands and dream of summer.
Lioba Grunow
Hi,
I would love to book you to help me do this!
Anja
Hi Anja – just book an hour of Life Admin here and we’ll coordinate with you to go through the forms.
Cheers, Kathleen
Yes hallo
Thanks so much for this incredible info. My question is: If you have a part-time work contract (with health insurance paid and all) but you also rely on freelance work for the rest of your monthly income, would you follow the same steps? I have not been employed for 12 consecutive months yet (at 11 right now).
Hi D: Grundsicherung für Selbstständige and Arbeitslosengeld II (which classifies as social welfare) is supposed to help to cover the costs a person would need to survive in Germany. If you have also been covering your income with freelance work, and that freelance work is now cancelled due to the virus, yes you might be eligible for financial assistance. But only, if your part-time job does not pay enough to cover rent, health insurance and your other expenses, and you’ve exhausted all your other assets/savings/etc. Arbeitslosengeld II is only there to maintain your most important needs. If your salary from your other job doesn’t suffice, they might pay a certain percentage. I’d suggest writing a letter, explaining your situation and seeing whether you can apply. We’ll upload a template shortly.
Great information. Re:
4. Residence permit as the spouse of a German citizen: You are eligible to receive benefits under SGB II but it might impact your right of residence
6. Permanent residence as the family member of a German citizen (spouse or parent): You are eligible to receive benefits under SGB II and this has no impact on your right of residence.
My Aufenthaltstitel states “Gultig bis UNBEFRISTET.” Does that mean I have permanent residency, i.e., point 6?
Also, does all of this apply only if, as a Selbstaendiger Berater, ALL of my income has been lost, or also if it has been substantially reduced?
Cheers,
tw
Hi Tim – Have a look at the section of the law on the pink bit of your permit, under the coat of arms. Which section is quoted? Permanent residency is “Niederlassungserlaubnis” or “Daueraufenthalt-EU”.
I’ve just heard through my German wife that you can only get this money if you’ve been quarantined or actually have the Corona virus (that info was from March 13th so could’ve been updated)….
https://www.google.de/amp/s/www.zeit.de/amp/wirtschaft/2020-03/selbststaendigkeit-coronavirus-freiberufler-entschaedigung
Can anyone shine any more light on this?
Hi Mark, the article is talking about the Entschädigung (compensation) from the department of health in case you’ve been quarantined. That payment has nothing to do with ALGII.
Hello and thank you for the information!
Just to make it clear- so in case that a person have some saving in the bank account he will not get any support and the “grundversicherung” is not for him?
Hi Nufar, possibly. For any welfare programme, you’re made to disclose everything that you have. If you have enough to survive for 6 months, for exmaple, then yes, it would probably disqualify you. Same with assets. If you could technically sell assets and survive on the savings, it would probably disqualify you. But I can’t give you any concrete numbers.
Hi guys,
Thanks for the information. Navigating German bureaucracy is my least favourite past time.
So I work as a freelance tour guide and the coronavirus has basically ended my income overnight. However, I have been saving up for about 10 years and have about 20k in the bank. Meanwhile, my wife is also still earning. Do you think its likely I would not receive ALGII? Given the update above, I assume not? Is there any other avenue I can go down to at least partially cover some costs? For example I read this here (https://www.thelocal.de/20200313/coronavirus-these-are-the-measures-germany-is-asking-you-to-take):
“Self-employed people and freelancers will also receive compensation for loss of earnings according to the Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. The local authority will base compensation on the profit from the tax declaration of the previous calendar year.”
Any insight on this? I can’t much information about it elsewhere.
Thanks
Hi Mark,
Lucky for you, we are strangely passionate about it.
I’m sorry about your tour guide troubles. You are not alone. If you declare the 20K you have in the bank, I doubt you would be eligible for ALGII. The Local is (we think) referring to an Entschädigung from the Gesundheitsamt. It has nothing to do with ALGII. We’re working on getting information about this, but it only applies if you are quarantined anyway. Watch. this space.
Hi Lioba,
I would love to book an hour of your time. I believe I may not be eligible for ALGII, but perhaps ALGI.
I have been freelance since August 2019. Before this, I was an employee for 3.5 years with a Berlin company. I currently have money in my savings account which is to pay for my yearly taxes, other than this, I will be scrapping the bottom of the barrel to cover my 700€ p/month rent. I am a non-EU citizen (from NZ), with a freelance permit §21 No. 5.
Would you be able to help me with finding the right forms for my situation?
Thanks,
M
Hi Marino – yes of course. Both Lioba and I will help you figure it out. You can book an hour online here, and we will send you a link to a calendar to book an appointment. Cheers, Kathleen
Thanks for the info, i am just wondering if rather do this or apply for the Entschädigungen nach dem Infektionsschutzgesetz bei Tätigkeitsverboten und Quarantäne, there is a spart for Selbständige https://www.berlin.de/sen/finanzen/presse/nachrichten/artikel.908216.php#headline_1_5
, not quite sure what would be the best or if its even same- I never wanted to go to job center and reality is that now i had all my projects cancelled and will be hard upcoming months (for all of us, not just me of course) so wondering – what would you suggest? thank you!!!!
The Entschädigung would apply if you actually get quarantined. We will post more about this shortly.
Hi Lioba,
Thank you for sharing this info. For non EU freelancers, it’s absolutely nightmare.
I have few things to ask:
1. I wonder if you have supported any non EU applicants already?
2. Once you apply to this, how soon you’ll likely to get this?
I’ve been struggling since January due to contract cancellation, and now this corona has ended my business.
Hi Hinako,
1. We’ve helped plenty of people with JobCenter applications in the past. Some of them might have been non-EU citizens, but I don’t see non-EU citizens applying for ALGII as a general rule. I suspect I’ll be seeing it a lot more frequently now.
2. I couldn’t possibly say. Keep in mind the office will be working at reduced capacity and the demand will be enormous.
3. I am so sorry to hear about the troubles you’ve had, even prior to Corona. You are not alone! We’ll update soon with more info for freelancers as soon as it comes to light.
Thank you for your reply.
My visa says “Erlischt mit Bezug von Leistungen nach dem SGB II oder SGB XII bzw. AsylLG” as you mentioned above, so in any case it would be out of my window, perhaps. I also sent email to Auslanderbehorde asking if they would have special measure for this occasion for non EU, regardless of visa restriction.
The chance is pretty slim but asking is free. Thank you for your time and sharing, will be looking forward to updates.
Best
Hinako, please report back if you get a response from them!
I am also interested in their reply! I haven’t received one yet.
My residence permit has § 18 Absatz 4 on it, and also says “Erlischt mit Bezug von Leistungen nach dem SGB II oder SGB XII bzw. AsylLG” I was at the JobCenter a month ago to get help with a potential career shift, and they had to deny me services. They stated that I couldn’t register for ALG-II because of the above conditions, or the Ausländerbehörde would cancel my residence permit.
However, I wonder if I can still register for Mietzuschuss (a type of Wohngeld) and hope they make an exception? It’s different from ALG-II but still potentially though the JobCenter.
Wohngeld is different to ALGII and doesn’t go through the JobCenter, rather, through the Wohngeldamt. You can’t get both – you have to choose which one, so if you’re refused ALGII then yes, apply for Wohngeld. The rules are complex, so I’d say just apply and see whether you get approved or not. The application is 9 pages long and available online. If you want help doing it online so that you can post it in, book an hour of Life admin. Good luck!
Hi, thank you for the information.
If I started my freelance activity in February (haven’t even receivedmy tax number yet), do you think there is any chance I can get something?
I couldn’t possibly say for sure, Diane. Best bet is to apply and wait for an approval or a rejection based on your info.
Hello, this is an excellent resource. I am not sure if you can help me or not. I worked as a freelance english teacher for the past two years up until December 2019, then I started a bootcamp in UX design in Berlin which I just finished as all this blew up, my school was closed down on the very last day. Now I’m looking at what’s going to be a very difficult job market with recession etc. and I live by myself in an apartment that costs 1000 a month – I don’t even know what my status is and if I’d be able to apply for any financial assistance. I have paid all my taxes in full over the past few years so surely there must be something I can apply to?
Best strategy is to just apply, give your details and see what response you get. If you want, I can help you figure out whether you’d be eligible and fill out forms. In any case, keep on looking at this blog post – I’ve gathered all the updates in one place and will be constantly updating it as new information comes in.
Hello,
As a owner of a flat and owner of a small shop, can I apply for this money?
My partner and I, have opened a little shop about a year and this situation is putting us in serious difficulty. We don’t have employees, but we have a lot of expensive for the shop and of course not income 🙁
I can’t tell you if you will be eligible or not, it depends on many many factors, but I did read that shop closures are covered under a bunch of initiatives for commercial enterprises in Berlin such as “Liquiditätshilfen” and loans, and I will be writing about them soon.
Hello, thanks for this great info!
Another question – would it be the same process if I only have a part-time job with a contract (that pays health insurance etc) in a cafe and that due to the virus I lost that job as my employer couldn’t afford keeping me? I rely on parental help for the rest but it’s maybe only 1/3 of my expenses.
Thank you!
Every case is going to be different. Depending on how long you’ve been employed, you might have to apply for ALG1 before you can apply for ALG2. If you want, I’d be happy to help you figure it all out.
Hi!
I could finally end a SGB II when I started to earn money enough for me per month, my final liquidation was in december 2019, they supposed to pay me some money back still, I didn’t hear a word from them since…
But now I’m again in need of the support.
Can I apply again?Do you have information about that?
Thank you!
If your circumstances have changed and you need support to pay your basic living costs and you’ve been eligible in the past, then yes, apply again.
Kathleen,
Thank you so much for this job that you’re doing. we all very much appretiate it.
I was wondering if you’d know if the form EKS also has to be filled by the husband of the person whos filling the document…. or in my non eu case I also have to fill it to complete the papers for my eu husband.
Thank you so much for all the help and all the information you’re giving.
Yes, plus EK and WEP.
Hi, what if I’m registered as a freelancer in another EU country, not in Germany – can I still claim the benefits? I have a residence Anmeldung here in Berlin.
Thank you in advance!
You’re registered as living in two different countries and registered as a freelancer in only one of them? Interesting. I don’t know the exact answer, but I suspect you will run into some complications applying for Grundsicherung für Selbstständige if you don’t actually have a registered business in Germany. But I can’t say for sure.
Hi Kathleen,
I am freelancing since no invoices this year yet because of the virus, everything is on hold. However I am currently traveling for an exhibition I had in Brazil and will stay here due the crisis.
Am I still eligible and do u know if this is something we can process remotely?
Many thanks,
Marcelo
Under normal circumstances you’d be required to be present and available in Germany, but these are not normal circumstances! You could apply remotely by posting the forms to your JobCenter.
Hello
Thanks a lot for this useful Information.
Do you know if this also applies to Working Holidays Visa? I have also a Part time Job but at the moment my incoming is not enough to Cover rental + life costs.
Thanks a lot for any Information you can provide
Hi Marina… what’s written on your working holiday visa? Is it Aufenthaltstitel as per §18 (3)? Did you get it in Germany? Or is it the temporary one that you get from your home country and have to convert into a residence permit when you arrive? My handy PDF from the Agentur für Arbeit isn’t quite specific enough – if a Working Holiday Visa recipient is considered “Saisonarbeitskräfte” (could be) then no, you’re excluded. But I’ll keep an ear to the ground for a definitive answer for you.
Hello, thanks for your helpful post!
Hi, I am 21 abs. 2 aufenthg. I work as an art teacher at a kita that has been closed.
Can I apply for the quarantine payment (https://www.berlin.de/sen/finanzen/presse/nachrichten/artikel.908216.php?fbclid=IwAR0Fgupa8hS_gCE4FviaNxL8TPOUgISfVh3lEVoR2LypdafvLNzrzZq-au8)
with a letter from the Kita saying that I the school was closed and I was unable to work?
If I apply for this will it invalidate my eventual application to this?
https://www.berlin.de/sen/kulteu/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2020/pressemitteilung.909707.php?fbclid=IwAR3MllS9JyJJxXvvrJZXM8yooNFd_DKtMa8ihOIpJFsDLujjPgpBQbpGOLI
thank you!
Sofia
Hi Sofia,
you need an Anordnungsbescheid from the Gesundheitsamt that mentions you specifically and the conditions of your quarantine or work ban.
I don’t think your application for the compensation would affect your application for the grant for freelancers, but no-one knows for sure. Just apply and see what happens.
Hello!
This info is great. I think I would like to book an hour with you to get these forms in, but I have a couple questions.
I am from the USA and living in Munich. I have a Daueraufenthalt-EU Aufenthaltstitel. I have my own self-employed business in the tourism industry and have cancelled all tours and trips with no income at the moment. Some tours are booked for later in the year and I’ve received some payments for them but no guarantee that they will run either. I have around €3,000 in the bank, but this is all sitting for unpaid VAT tax and income tax. Do you think it makes sense to apply for unemployment? I read also about the €40 billion that is being passed to help small businesses, if I apply for unemployment, does this affect eligibility for this as well?
Thanks so much! If it seems to make sense for me, I would love to book your help with the forms.
Hi L,
If you apply for other grants before applying for ALGII, you’ll just have to declare it on the ALGII forms. Have a look at this link as well – might be relevant for you. No-one can say for sure whether you’ll be eligible for ALGII or for any other grants for that matter, so I’d say apply to whatever you can and see what happens. If you get granted ALGII and then you get another grant as well, you’d declare the change in your circumstances and the ALGII Stelle would determine whether to stop your payments or not.
Hi Kathleen,
I am a non-eu citizen that is a freelancer. I would like to book your services but i need to understand what is the actual benefit i can apply for. I understand i am probably not going to qualify for the welfare( algII) what is the other unemployment benefit i could apply for as a freelancer. Also i would like more information on i guess getting in line to apply for the grants that might be possible in Berlin for freelancers. What kind of information will be needed to qualify.
Hi Jennifer,
No-one knows yet what information will be required in Berlin. The application process hasn’t been released yet for the freelance grant. As for ALGII, if you want concrete information about your individual situation, feel free to book a half-hour appointment and we’ll help you figure out what you are and are not eligible for.
Hello, I am musician and after reading the blog and checking my Visa it ineed says “Erlischt mit Bezug von Leistungen nach dem SGB II oder SGB XII bzw”. I have some money in my savings but it will be exhausted after paying my rent, health insurance+pension and other expenses. I have 2 querries:
1. Do you think I should apply for the grant now or wait for the my funds to delpete?
2. Do you have any new updates regarding the impact on my residence permit if I apply for the aid.
Thank You
No new information yet, sorry P. But wait until Friday or Monday when the application form for the freelancer government grant from Berlin comes out.
Hi there! I have the same situation as P Roy, and would be grateful for any updates regarding the impact on my residence permit as a freelance musician if I apply for the financial aid. Thank you!
I just updated this blog post this morning so please reload. To clarify, if you are a freelancer, it will have no impact on your residence permit if you have to apply for ALGII between 18.03.2020 and 17.06.2020. THe foreigner’s office has now issued a statement about that.
The Jobcenter webpage where you can download the forms to apply compensation seems to have disabled the form specifically for freelancers or self-employed persons: Anlage zum Einkommen Selbstständiger (EKS). It is now not available, although all other forms are downloadable. https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/arbeitslos-arbeit-finden/download-center-arbeitslos#1478809808529
You receive a message that you need the latest version of Adobe Reader instead. I have the professional package of Adobe, which includes the updated Reader. I checked in different browsers also.
Red!!! Great to hear from you.
It’s not disabled, it’s just a real $%%& of a form to access. I had to try on 3 different computers, also with various browsers and even Mac/Windows, and I finally got it to load by downloading the latest version of Adobe Reader for my Mac. I’ve accessed it at least twice this morning in Adobe Reader without a problem. But it certainly makes it hard!!
I have a question, regarding proof of work… according to the statment, EU citizens need to hand in their invoices from the past six months, as they’re only eligible if they can prove that they have been a freelancer for at least half a year. A way for non-EU citizens to prove they’ve been a freelancer for at least 6 months is by presenting their Aufenthaltstitel.
I have been registered as a freelancer since July at the finanzamt… but my first invoice is from November… Does the gewerbe anmeldung or the registration at finanzamt work as proof?
Or I should not even try it?
Thanks!
Hi Emiliano, I can’t say for sure but I would certainly apply and use your Aufenthaltstitel as proof. If the JobCenter needs more information than that, they’ll ask you for it.
Hello! I am a self-employed from May 2019, registered in Berlin and working as a tour guide. I would have 2 questions:
1. Is my insurance number needed in any of the forms listed above(HA, EKS, EK, VM, KDU and VE)? I had until 15th February 2020 public insurance from Spain and I am now in the process of applying to TK from 15th of Feb, but i do not have an insurance number yet.
2. Is my tax return for 2019 needed to apply? Did not do it yet.
Thanks!!
1. I would call TK; it shouldn’t take them very long to issue you with an insurance number. Alternatively, if you already have login details for their customer portal, you can download confirmation of membership. You will need to give the details of your health insurance one way or another – with public health insurance, usually, you can just copy your card and send it in, but perhaps you don’t have that yet either.
2. No.
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for the detailed write-up. It really helped. I am trying to figure out if I am applicable to receive any benefits during these hard times.
I am registered as a freelancer in Cologne. I am a comedian and also work as a tour guide but this year, I have been earning less than 450 euros a month and my health insurance is covered by my husband’s family insurance. Now because of this pandemic, all my gigs have been canceled. Even though we are able to survive on my husband’s salary, but 450 euros as my personal income was really important to me to cover my personal expenses including necessities like groceries, hygiene, etc. Is there any way I can get my lost income because of the current pandemic.
Best Regards
Anshita Koul
Hi. Anshita, NRW has a Soforthilfe programme for artists. You can get up to 2000 EUR if you can upload the contracts for the gigs that got cancelled. Let me know if you’d like help with the form, or any others. Otherwise, you can apply for ALGII (details above) if it comes to that.
Hello Anshita,
I live in Cologne and I’m on a student visa. I also would like to get registered as a freelance language teacher. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get an appointment and apply for the visa at foreigners department, but I haven’t been in much luck so far. I was wondering if you could give me some information about the process. If you don’t mind could you please tell me how and where I should apply for the visa?
Luckily for me, I was already a broke freelancer before COVID-19, so nothing has changed. 🙂
I see this situation is keeping you really busy. You are one of the few people who doesn’t get a break now, but will need one after the pandemic.
Great job navigating all the new laws and administrative procedures and translating them!
Thanks Andreas! Don’t forget to tell me if you see any glaring mistakes. You always do 🙂
Thank you for this!
I have an EU Blue Card (19A) and my wife is here through that. We were both laid off due to COVID-19, but have been in Germany for under one year, so we don’t qualify for unemployment. Do you know if we would qualify for this?
You might, yes – I would certainly apply, give all the details and wait for a response.
hello!!!!
Do you know the deadline on the corona help application….Im a freelancer in Germany…Working in Lower Saxony and registred in
the city of Soltau…
Is there any update on that???
THANX!!!!
Hi Harris. Here are the details you need. I can’t find a “deadline” but in most other federal states, they’ve put 31.05.2020 as the deadline so I would roll with that.
Thank you for this thread, I have an issue – I am a freelancer working in Berlin since one year and was slowly moving out of the Job centre (Arbeitslosengeld II) but still relay on this for small contributions to bills as my income fluctuates. Last week I amended my claim with the Jobcentre as all my jobs/income had fallen through. Within this time the freelances grant was offered, I made an application and it was granted within hours. I haven’t yet heard back for the Jobcentre but presume they will amend my case, but I presume one welfare package would cancel out the other? Was I eligible for the freelancers grant if I was already with the Jobcentre?
Hi Romi, Lioba called the Job Center yesterday to ask about exactly this. The Job center gave her the slightly confusing information that as the grant is intended for “business expenses”, it won’t affect the application for ALGII, but…. as we now know from the IBB, it’s also OK to consider the 5,000 portion as “compensation for loss of income” and therefore OK to use for personal expenses. In a nutshell, no-one knows for sure, least of all the Job Center, it seems. Your case is also different because you were receiving ALGII BEFORE the Corona crisis, so the stringent normal ALGII checks might still apply to you even though they might not apply to others applying for ALGII for the first time, and thus covered under the new law with the relaxed audits. My instinct is just to adjust your application, include the details that you were awarded the grant and see what the response is.
Hi Can I book you for advisory on how to full the forms?
Thanks,
Sure. Fill out the form, make a payment of either 19 EUR for 30 minutes or 35 EUR for a full hour, and we’ll send you a link to book a time.
Hi,
Thanks a lot for the informative post. I have a question regarding the lapsing of self-employed permits in the case of obtaining ALG II.
Does this also apply if my self-employed residence permit actually expired and I haven’t been able to get an extension yet because the Ausländerbehörde cancelled all extension appointments due to Coronavarius and are now just issuing temporary registration certificates online? I have this online certificate from them but not the real permit extension. Do you know if applying for ALG II now would put my extension application at risk?
Thanks a lot
It won’t put your etension certificate or your residence permit at risk as long as you’re applying for ALGII between 18.3 and 17.6.2020.
Hi,
Sorry to add another question to your long list. I am a freelance artist visa holder and was lucky enough to receive the 5000 euro grant. I’m not sure you mentioned anything about the eligibility of the welfare-unemployment spoken about in this post, and how it would cross over with the initial grant.
-am I still eligible? I am mainly concerned that I may not see a normal pay cheque until Sept-Oct-Nov this year, and the 5000 is covering all my expenses until then..
– I am also considered how exactly that could affect my visa? I am due for visa renewal (or potential permanent residency) next June which will be my 5 year mark in the country. Typially, they look at your yearly income and like to see an increase in business, which will clearly not be the case for me this year
-what should I consider if I have already received the Corona grant, and am considering applying for the unemployment aid?
Thanks for all your time and efforts during this time!
Hi there! Congrats on getting the 5,000 EUR.
– If you got the 5,000 EUR before 06.04.2020, you can most likely use this money to pay your personal living expenses. So, this might affect your ALGII application. But the best thing to do is just apply, give honest answers, and let THEM figure it out.
– If you receive ALGII up until 17.06, it won’t affect your permit. But no-one knows what happens after 17.06.2020. We are all waiting to see if the time period will be extended by the foreigner’s office.
– By the time you go to renew your permit in June next year, you’ll have (hopefully!) had time to build up an income source again. Of course it would be ideal to see an increase in business, but the main thing is, by the time you go back there, you can prove that your ongoing income covers your living expenses. Sure there might be a dip in 2020, as there will for every business, but if you can prove that your income is enough to cover your expenses in June 2021 moving forward, then you should qualify for a renewal (assuming every other aspect of your application is also OK).
– Just claim everything on your application form. THere’s a special question on the ALGII form that asks you if you got the grant.
Good luck!
Kathleen
Hi There.. I recently got my artist visa renewed for 3 years, but due to COVID-19, job offers are very low and my income is struggling. I have heard mixed advice on applying for the Hartz4.. typically with an aufenthaltstitel you cant take government money, but do you know if the circumstance is different now due to COVID?
I am with KSK, paying taxes as well as my pension fund for 5 years here…
Thanks so much for any input, its all a bit confusing..
Best, L
Hi Lucy, if you’re in Berlin, you are fine to apply for ALGII until 30.09.2020 even if you have an Aufenthaltstitel. Book Life Admin if you want to know more, or watch this video.
Hi Kathleen,
I am Non EU citizen and have Aufenthalskatre (Spouse of Eu Citizen) as my wife is a Eu citizen. I am currently working as Freelancer and my wife is a part time employe by me. She is working for me now. Because of Covid my client terminated the contract. I want apply for ALGII and i have few questions.
1. Will it have any impact on my residence status? I have residence as Eu Spouse not as freelancer.
2. My wife is my part time employe for 50 Hours. I did not terminate her contract because i have good savings in business account and it is not more than 60,000 Euro. Should we also apply ALGll for her or should we need fill separate form for her income declaration.
1. If you are in Berlin, applying for ALGII until 30.06.2021 won’t have an impact on any residence status. As the spouse of an EU citizen, you can apply for ALGII without affecting your residnece status. BUT, when you go to renew your residence permit, you should be able to show proof of an ongoing income again.
2. You are a household and so whether you apply for ALGII or whether she applies, you’ll be applying for both of you. You will have to declare information about both your incomes.
Hi, as of January 2022, does anyone know if ALG II benefits have been extended for non-EU freelancers living in Berlin ? Berlin had cut it off in Sept. 2021, has it been reintroduced?
As far as I can see, it was discontinued on 30.09.2021 and hasn#t been reintroduced.